AN ACT relating to competitive natural gas choices for consumers.
Create new sections of KRS Chapter 278 to allow a natural gas distribution company to elect to allow a competitive supply market in its service area, by establishing separate unbundled rates for service components and by allowing competitive suppliers of some services; require a utility to treat all suppliers, including itself or an affiliate, without preference; establish a certificate of authority which any prospective natural gas supplier or marketer must obtain from the Public Service Commission before doing business in any competitive area; establish criteria for granting a certificate, and a schedule for review of applications by the Public Service Commission; require the gas utility to continue to offer all services at regulated rates until the commission determines that competitive market alternatives have become reasonably available for one or more services, after which that service will be deregulated; allow the utility to relinquish its obligation to provide gas supplies and establish methods to allocate customers among suppliers if the utility makes that choice; authorize experimental competitive pilot programs in lieu of more permanent change; specify that gas supplies continue to be part of the value subject to various specified taxes; require out-of-state marketers or gas suppliers to consent to the jurisdiction of Kentucky courts and to designate an in-state agent; specify that the distributor render a single bill to the consumer and bill for competitive suppliers, and collect all taxes due; exempt municipal gas utilities from the provisions; allow extensions of transition deadlines for good cause; direct the Public Service Commission to promulgate administrative regulations to implement specified policies; create a new section of KRS Chapter 205 to establish a Low Income Natural Gas Heating Assistance Fund to augment the federally-funded energy assistance to households that heat with natural gas, funded by a surcharge collected by electing natural gas distribution companies.